NTPC to set up wind power project in Karnataka

Bangalore, June 29 (IANS) State-run National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) will set up a 100 MW wind power project in Bagalkot district of Karnataka at an investment of Rs.600 crore, Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje said Wednesday.
“The corporation’s second and largest wind power project will be located at Guledagudda in Bagalkot district. The generated power will be supplied to state-run power providers at Rs.5.30 per unit,” Karandlaje told reporters at an event here.
For wheeling the power to the state grid, NTPC has signed power purchase agreements with five energy supplying firms that distribute the power across the state.
“We have initiated measures to generate 1,766 mw of power from wind energy, whose estimated potential in the state is about 14,000 mw,” the minister said.
The central government has also allocated 200 MW to Karnataka under the national solar mission to be generated by 2016.
“We look forward to NTPC supplying more power to the state for bridging the demand-supply gap from its power projects in the state and the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh,” the minister said.
The corporation is setting up a 4,000 MW coal-based power plant at Pudimadka in Vishakapatnam district. Karnataka is expecting to get 600 mw from Pudimadka project.
The minister regretted that the state’s proposed thermal power projects at Yeramaras and Yedlapur in Raichur district and in Chhatisgarh were delayed due to non-availability of coal linkages from the central government.
“We are taking up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for early clearances at a meeting with him July 2,” Karandlaje said.